Shilyn Bradt, a 13-year-old who survived a severe gastrointestinal disease and multiple respiratory arrests at just weeks old, trains by boxing against a punching bag at Smitty's Midwest Boxing Gym in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 4, 2016.
Bradt was born with pyloric stenosis, a disease normally found in male babies over 2 weeks old. It occurs when the muscle that controls flow of food from the stomach to the small intestine is enlarged, blocking food from reaching the intestine. It causes severe and constant vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and weight loss.

In addition to pyloric stenosis, Bradt contracted respiratory syncytial virus after receiving the surgery to fix her pyloric stenosis. The virus caused her to go into respiratory arrest 36 times. "All of her monitors would go off and she would just stop breathing," her mother, Heather Bradt-Kingsley, said. "You would hear it and you were jumping up and you're grabbing her and you're shaking the (...) out of her." Bradt is seen here working on back and abdomen exercises with the help of her mother at Smitty's Midwest Boxing Gym in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 2, 2016.

Shilyn Bradt spars with Luis Velasquez at Smitty's Midwest Boxing Gym in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 4, 2016. The only lingering effects from her past health struggles are having an inability to vomit or burp due to her stomach being tied around her esophagus, and a sharp pain if she ever takes a hit to what is now a long scar in her stomach. "Oh, gosh, it hurts a lot," said Bradt. "I don't know how it's going to react if I get hit there too many times."

Despite the potential dangers, Shilyn keeps working towards a future career in boxing. "I want to make something of myself in boxing," said Bradt. "I don't want to be known as the person who had a couple fights, I want to be known as a champion."

Shilyn Bradt and her mother Heather Bradt-Kingsley work on Bradt's homework at their home in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 9, 2016.
Through Shilyn's health struggles, Heather kept hope that her daughter would survive and grow up normally, which she is doing now.

Shilyn Bradt grabs her backpack from coach Darrell Smith's truck during the first day of registration of the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 4, 2016. The tournament would reward its winners with a trip to the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Championship in November.

Shilyn Bradt stands in line with fellow members of Smitty's Midwest Boxing Gym as they all wait to register for the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 4, 2016. Bradt, 13, registered to fight at 115 pounds during the two-day tournament.

Shilyn Bradt talks to tournament officials as she attempts to register to fight at the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 4, 2016.

Shilyn Bradt reacts in confusion to finding her name in the "uncontested" column of the matchup sheets of the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 5, 2016. Bradt was the only registered boxer in her age and weight combination, leading to her being declared an uncontested champion and automatically advancing to the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Championship in Kissimmee, Fla. in November.

Shilyn Bradt takes a selfie of herself with an orange in her face as she waits for her status to be decided prior to the start of competition during the Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 5, 2016.

Shilyn Bradt reacts as her coach, Darrell Smith, tells her she would automatically advance to the Sugar Bert Boxing Title National Championship in Kissimmee, Fla. as an uncontested champion. She would not fight at all during the weekend's two-day Sugar Bert Boxing Title Belt National Qualifier tournament at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Mo. on March 5, 2016.